Increase in arrivals at Muscat Airport

Published Date

June 30 - The Muscat International Airport has reported an increase in passengers handled in the first five months of the year. Arrivals rose by 12 percent to 773,771, compared to 691,477 in the same period of 2009, while the count of departing passengers grew by 16 percent to 761,471 from 657,572.

The growth was attributed to the hike in number of flights by several airlines operating to Muscat, such as Air India Express, Air Arabia, Shaheen Air International and Oman Air.

The total number of passengers, including those in transit, recorded a rise of 30 per cent to 2,235,051.

Cargo handled jumped by 69 percent - 39,298 tonnes from 23,302 tonnes. Meanwhile, at the Salalah Airport in the south, a nine per cent growth was registered in arriving and departing passengers to 175,470 from 160,725. However, cargo traffic decreased by five per cent - to 502 tonnes from 526 tonnes.